Glencoe
Not in the same league as Whalebones tale…
Imagine the scene. 1988 give or take a year. A beautiful sunny day in the West Highlands of Scotland; An unusual thing in itself some would say. While taking a day walk from Bridge of Orchy to Fort William (I was young and fit then), we stop at the Kingshouse Hotel at Glencoe for a bite of lunch and a pint of milk.
Standing on the bridge outide the hotel, looking west I see 4 Tornadoes coming up Glencoe heading east at about 500ft agl. Just then, I hear something behind me, then see above, 4 hawks heading west into Glencoe at about 500ft agl, ie at the same height. After much shuffling they managed to pass each other in the narrow space between the Buchaille and Beinn a’ Chrulaiste. I swear I saw a Hawk come within a couple of wingspans of its shadow!
My mate and I looked at each other in astonishment, then about 30 secs later another noise. An F-111 crossing Glencoe, from the Lairig Gartain, at about 1000ft. As we continued the walk we saw much of the F-111 and some F16s, didn’t see anything from the RAF.
I wonder to this day if the Tornados and Hawks knew beforehand that the other flight was going to be there.
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